Floating body.



Patented Nov. 20, I900.

E. G. BAILEY.

FLOATING BODY.

(Application filed Aug. 29. 1900.)

(No Model.)

E611 Balilqyfi THE NORRIS PETERS ca. ruowaumo. wsumcn'on. o. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT ,FFICE.

EDWARD GRAY BAILEY, OF GAINESVILLE, TEXAS.

FLOATING BODY;

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 662,335, dated November 20, 1900.

Application filed A ust 29, 1900. Serial No. 28,422. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDWARD GRAY BAILEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Gainesville, in the county of Cooke and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Floating Bodies; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in balloons or floating bodies.

The object of the invention is to provide a floating body, consisting of a flexible air or gas receiver, made toimitate or resemble animate or inanimate objects, so as to assume when inflated the shape of a human head or bust, birds, statues, animals, or any other desired object, such device providinga novel, useful, and attractive article adapted for the instruction and amusement of children, and for use on public occasions at picnics, political gatherings, and parades-and for advertising purposes, the shape of the article heing varied to suit the purpose for which it is intended to be used.

The primary object is the provision of a device which will at one and the same time aiford both amusement and instruction and will be of use in every-day life in instilling patriotism by rendering the public familiar with the countenances of noted persons and in familiarizing children and others with the forms of birds, beasts, and other animate and inanimate objects.

With these and other minor objects in View the invention consists of certain novel features of construction and combination of parts, as Will be hereinafter more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the appended claim.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a floating body embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a central vertical section of the same. Fig. 3 is a detail view of the valved tube and holding device. Fig. 4 is a similar view showing a modification.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, in which like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the numeral 1 represents a hollow flexible gas or air receiver made of rubber or any other suitable material molded or'otherwise formed to imitate or resemble an animate or inanimate body or object. In the present instance I have shown a gas-receiver made in the form of a mans head such as I intend to employ for use in political campaigns and parades and at public gatherings to represent the heads and features of the candidates or other public men; but I may also make the receiver in the form of a bird, beast, bust, or statue, or any other animate or inanimate body, object, or article, according to the use to which it is to be put.

The receiver 1, which is preferably made of thin elastic rubber, is provided at a suitable point with an integral tube or nipple b, in which is fitted a closure 0, consisting of a tube, preferably, but not necessarily, made of metal and provided with an annular groove 61. A cord or wire 6 is wrapped about the tube or nipple b and holds the same securely seated within said groove 01 and effects a firm and air-tight connection of the closure 0 therewith. In the tube or closure 0 is arranged a check-valve f, which is normally held to its seat by a spring 9 to prevent the escape of the gas or other inflating medium. The outer end of the tube 0 is open and is internally threaded, as at h, for the reception of a conductor leading from a source of gas-supply. In inflating the receiver 1 the gas-conductor is fitted in the tube 0 and the pressure of gas let on and allowed to flow into the receiver until the same is inflated to the desired degree, the valve opening under pressure to allow the gas to enter and then closing to prevent escape of the gas. Instead of employing this construction I may wrap or hermetically seal the tube or nipple b after inflation.

The tube 0 may be provided at its outer end with a head or flange 2', having a series of perforations for attachment of short cords or wiresj leading to a holding cord, wire, or other connection adapted to be held in the hand. By this means the floating body may be securely held and allowed to rise to any desired height.

As shown in Fig. 4, the construction of the closing-tube may be modified by dispensing with the valve and employing a screw-plug 7a or its equivalent for effecting a closure.

v By means of the form and construction described I provide a novel, useful, and attractive article whichis adapted for patriotic, holiday, and all other gatherings, picnics, and day and night parades, as well as an object-lesson instructor, affording interest and amusement to children and others. The device may be also used in a variety of Ways for advertising purposes.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

As a new article of manufacture, an inflatable folding body provided with an inte- EDWARD GRAY BAILEY.

Witnesses:

LEE H. BRADY, O. O. BRADY. 

